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  • 1.  Favorite way to texture a set?

    Posted 04-21-2025 13:52

    Hey all!

    I'm currently student teaching, and my host teacher is really into dry-brushing. I love it, but I was wondering if you had any other ideas to add visual interest to our set? Which is your favorite! 

    I'm all ears, and I appreciate your wisdom in these matters.



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    Bryan Lucchesi
    CO
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  • 2.  RE: Favorite way to texture a set?

    Posted 04-22-2025 05:12

    Hi Bryan,

    How exciting for you! My personal favorite is to use my Woolie tool and a few different colors. It's also a great way to get several students involved.

    Peace and blessings,

    T



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    Tamara Plasterer
    Artistic Director, Fine Arts Dept. Chair.
    Padua Franciscan High School
    OH
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Favorite way to texture a set?

    Posted 04-22-2025 08:11

    My favorite way to texture a set is to use a darker shade of paint and dab it over the lighter painted flat. Example in this Youtube video - except I don't glaze at the end: DIY Faux Leather Painting Technique | HGTV

    YouTube remove preview
    DIY Faux Leather Painting Technique | HGTV
    Danielle Hirsch shows you how to create the aged appearance of fine leather using plastic bags and paint as part of the show Paint Techniques. Subscribe ► http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=hgtv Check Out Our Newsletter ► https://www.hgtv.com/about-us/hgtv-newsletters/ HGTV delivers families with relatable stories, superstar real estate and renovation experts and amazing home transformations that inspire a passionate audience.
    View this on YouTube >



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    Marla Blasko
    Director/Teacher Theatre Arts
    Long Reach High School
    Columbia, Maryland
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Favorite way to texture a set?

    Posted 04-22-2025 09:00

    One of my specialties is texture with various textiles! We use the insulation foam boards for most of our large set pieces, and what is cool about that is that you can scrape, carve, and melt this to an extent all giving it an awesome effect before you paint it, making the painting step a cinch.  For example, for some stones around a door frame, I used a small hot knife to outline the stones, then I sprayed the stones with water droplets from a mist bottle and used a heat gun, this contracts the foam where there are not droplets, leaving a really cool bumpy effect on the foam.  I have also layered textured fabrics on foam with a wood glue and water solution (like paper mache paste), and googly eyes make awesome rivets! Paper Mache is my real forte, so I document mostly props and costume pieces, but maybe you can get a few other ideas here: https://sites.google.com/view/arrayofmache/top-secret 



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    Analiese Hamm
    ECS Performing Arts Director
    Echols County High School
    Statenville GA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Favorite way to texture a set?

    Posted 04-22-2025 14:33

    Beautiful work, Analiese, and thanks for sharing (I love the bubble wrap for the squid!).

    If I can add a bit to this thread, I'll go with something that people in my field (theatrical design) depend on and love to do: research: There are tons of photos of, for instance, real stone, stone walls, brick, wood, marble, wallpaper, carpet, moldings, and other items online, and it's really simple to look at a bunch of photos, narrow your search, and find something you like. It doesn't take long nowadays with a computer (we used to go to the library and come back with stacks of books), and it often results in finding ideas you would have never thought of. There's no need to make it up from scratch or memory, or "from what you think it looks like."

    I did a post on research several years ago, and you can check it out here: https://setdesignandtech.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/research-is-an-investment-not-a-luxury/

    Have fun!



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    George F. Ledo
    Set designer
    www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
    www.georgefledo.net
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    Original Message


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